Park Ridge

Park Ridge, a "Tree City USA" town, is in danger of losing its lush tree canopy unless more money is spent to repair it. There are 5,200 vacant spots where trees could be planted; and 45 percent of the still-existing street trees are "in a class that's considered high risk" and vulnerable to storms, insects and disease, City Forester Tony Gliot said. While the pruning budget is adequate, the city's current funding for reforestation "is just not keeping up with the rate of removal," Gliot recently warned aldermen.

The area's top teams, as ranked by Sentinel staff: 1. Apopka (10-1) : Blue Darters' scoring average of 55.1 points per game is tops in state history. 2. Dr. Phillips (11-0) : Panthers play another perennial power, Plant (9-1-1), on Friday night in Tampa. 3. Lake Mary (11-0) : Rams look to make more history by winning second-round game for first time. 4. Daytona Beach Mainland (10-1) : Buccaneers take show on road to Leesburg on Friday night. 5. Kissimmee Osceola (9-2)

Citing Park Ridge 's precarious financial condition and the need to keep property taxes as low as possible, Mayor David Schmidt vetoed a contract with one of the city's five employee unions and pay raises for non-union employees. Schmidt's veto of the raises and three-year contract with the Illinois Council of Police and Sheriffs, which represents 32 employees in the community development, finance, police and public works departments, triggers an automatic sustain-or-override vote on Sept.

Park Ridge lawmakers this week voted 5 to 2 to override Mayor David Schmidt's veto earlier this month of pay raises for the city's five employee unions and non-union employees. But in a bizarre bit of political theater, the council voted to sustain the mayor's veto of a three-year contract with the Illinois Council of Police and Sheriffs, which represents 32 employees in the community development, finance, police and public works departments. "We're talking about fairness, but more importantly, I think we need to be fair to the property taxpayers here in town," Schmidt said of his vetoes, prior to the council's Monday night votes.

Alfonso Iannelli, an early 20 t h Century sculptor from Park Ridge, isn't as famous as Frank Lloyd Wright — but he often collaborated with the Oak Park architect. Some in Iannelli's hometown have long hoped that by saving and restoring his home and studio on Northwest Highway in downtown Park Ridge, they can elevate both the man and the suburb in the eyes of architecture, art and industrial design fans worldwide. Now they're on their way. The Kalo Foundation, which saved the Iannelli home and studio at 255-57 N. Northwest Highway by buying it last year, recently won approval from the City Council to enshrine the property in the city's zoning code as a "heritage center.

Park Ridge lawmakers this week voted 5 to 2 to override Mayor David Schmidt's veto earlier this month of pay raises for the city's five employee unions and non-union employees. But in a bizarre bit of political theater, the council voted to sustain the mayor's veto of a three-year contract with the Illinois Council of Police and Sheriffs, which represents 32 employees in the community development, finance, police and public works departments. "We're talking about fairness, but more importantly, I think we need to be fair to the property taxpayers here in town," Schmidt said of his vetoes, prior to the council's Monday night votes.

A Chicago man was charged with armed robbery after he directed a taxi driver to O'Hare International Airport but ordered him to stop in Park Ridge where he stole $65 from the driver whom he allegedly stabbed, Park Ridge police said. Antonio Olivier, 23, of the 7300 block of North Seeley Avenue, was arrested on Tuesday and is expected to appear in bond court today, police said. The incident occurred on August 22 when Olivier hailed a cab on the 2000 block of Birchwood in Chicago and told the driver to take him to O'Hare.

MINNEOLA -- Representatives for the Park Ridge on Lake Minneola community have one thing to say about the city's proposal for a large new waterfront park: Stay away from our beach. City officials are putting together plans for their first park on Lake Minneola that would include a beach, trail, dock and other facilities. The original idea was to encompass two possible sites -- 1.5 acres up for sale along Lakeshore Drive and a neighboring waterfront park that is part of Park Ridge. But a management company representing Park Ridge's 276-unit homeowners association board sent a stern letter to Minneola this week objecting to the city's prospects on their property.

MINNEOLA - A dead-end street and a stretch of private beach. That's what 75 residents of Minneola's Park Ridge neighborhood showed up in force to talk about at a recent City Council meeting.They were taken off the agenda, so residents are holding a meeting of their own at 6:30 p.m. today at City Hall to air gripes about their developer and the city.Those who live in the 160-home development paid top dollar for the quiet offered by a cul-de-sac with a private beach on Lake Minneola. According to agreements between the residents and developer, it takes a two-thirds vote of property owners voting to change that arrangement.

JUNE M. SHERRY, 66, 210 Fairgreen Ave., New Smyrna Beach, died October 30. Born in Utica, N.Y., she moved to New Smyrna Beach from Park Ridge, Ill., six months ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church, Park Ridge. Survivors: husband, Leo B.; son, Robert L., Milwaukee, Ill.; daughter, Barbara Sherry, Skokie, Ill.; brothers, ''R.'' Joseph Moore, Whitesboro, N.Y.; two grandchildren. Dudley Funeral Home, New Smyrna Beach.

The North Suburban Emergency Communications Center, a partnership formed 20 years ago to provide cost-effective 911 emergency service, may be the latest victim of a struggling economy. The Center, housed in the Des Plaines city hall, originally served Des Plaines and Park Ridge as The Des Plaines-Park Ridge Communication Center. Niles and Morton Grove joined in 2002, saving money. Recently, Morton Grove and Niles opted out of the service and plan to move their emergency operations to Glenview by next May, said Sherrill Ornberg, executive director of the NSECC.

Park Ridge, a "Tree City USA" town, is in danger of losing its lush tree canopy unless more money is spent to repair it. There are 5,200 vacant spots where trees could be planted; and 45 percent of the still-existing street trees are "in a class that's considered high risk" and vulnerable to storms, insects and disease, City Forester Tony Gliot said. While the pruning budget is adequate, the city's current funding for reforestation "is just not keeping up with the rate of removal," Gliot recently warned aldermen.

Citing Park Ridge 's precarious financial condition and the need to keep property taxes as low as possible, Mayor David Schmidt vetoed a contract with one of the city's five employee unions and pay raises for non-union employees. Schmidt's veto of the raises and three-year contract with the Illinois Council of Police and Sheriffs, which represents 32 employees in the community development, finance, police and public works departments, triggers an automatic sustain-or-override vote on Sept.

Sorry to be cynical, but I subscribe to the theory that no union would strike in an election year as it would hurt its candidate. This strike is a set-up: Now President Barack Obama can step in and end the strike, resulting in cheers and fawning media coverage and a bounce in his polls. — Helen Hanley, Park Ridge

Alfonso Iannelli, an early 20 t h Century sculptor from Park Ridge, isn't as famous as Frank Lloyd Wright — but he often collaborated with the Oak Park architect. Some in Iannelli's hometown have long hoped that by saving and restoring his home and studio on Northwest Highway in downtown Park Ridge, they can elevate both the man and the suburb in the eyes of architecture, art and industrial design fans worldwide. Now they're on their way. The Kalo Foundation, which saved the Iannelli home and studio at 255-57 N. Northwest Highway by buying it last year, recently won approval from the City Council to enshrine the property in the city's zoning code as a "heritage center.

A Chicago man was charged with armed robbery after he directed a taxi driver to O'Hare International Airport but ordered him to stop in Park Ridge where he stole $65 from the driver whom he allegedly stabbed, Park Ridge police said. Antonio Olivier, 23, of the 7300 block of North Seeley Avenue, was arrested on Tuesday and is expected to appear in bond court today, police said. The incident occurred on August 22 when Olivier hailed a cab on the 2000 block of Birchwood in Chicago and told the driver to take him to O'Hare.

ROBERT B. PLATT, 76, 631 Oxford Ave., Melbourne, died Thursday. Born in Park Ridge, N.J., he moved to Melbourne from Camp Springs, Md., in 1972. He was a retired Air Force chief warrant officer. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Melbourne, and the American Legion. Survivors: daughters, Elizabeth, Melbourne, Catherine Prekel, Wayne, N.J., Anne Noah, Dallas; sister, Isabel Adams, Park Ridge, N.J.; five grandchildren. Brownlie and Maxwell Funeral Home, Melbourne.

Stan and Frankie Obuchowski, Park Ridge, Ill., announce the engagement of their daughter, Julia Marie, Orlando, to Christopher Glenn Owens, son of Hank Owens and Liz Newton, Orlando. The wedding is planned for Aug. 5. She graduated from Maine Township High School East, Park Ridge, the National College of Education, Evanston, Ill., and University of Central Florida, Orlando. He graduated from Evans High School, Orlando, Valencia Community College, Orlando, and University of Central Florida.

Park Ridge has now approved contracts with three of its five employee unions. Aldermen recently approved a 3-year contract with the Illinois Council of Police and Sheriffs, which represents 32 employees in the Community Development, Finance, Police and Public Works departments. Aldermen Dan Knight and Marc Mazzuca voted against the pact. Knight said he voted "no" because the city has yet to examine its salary structure in a comprehensive way — a reason he repeated later when he also voted against confirming raises for non-union employees, which will cost the city an additional $48,000.

Prosecutors in the Drew Peterson trial said, they believe Peterson rendered Kathleen Savio unconscious with a police hold. I'm a retired police officer and never heard of a "police hold. " I have heard of a choke hold. The prosecutors use police hold as if the police have some special evil hold that can only be used by the police. Don't try to win your case by casting shadows on honest police officers. — Tony Amelio, Park Ridge